Fabrication of Au-CuO hybrid plasmonic nanostructured thin films with enhanced photocatalytic activity

Thin films of Au-CuO plasmonic nanohybrids were fabricated by simple thermal evaporation. SEM and XRD investigations unveiled the impact of annealing on the structural properties and morphology of the synthesized Au-CuO hybrid thin film. Au nanoparticle decoration onto CuO thin film significantly altered the photocatalytic activity, structural and optical properties of CuO thin film. The as-prepared Au-CuO nanostructured hybrid plasmonic thin film showed improved photocatalytic efficiency for decomposition of MG and MB than pristine CuO and annealed Au-CuO thin film samples. The improved photocatalytic efficiency of Au-CuO hybrid nanostructured thin film is attributed to reduction in the recombination of charge carriers in CuO nanostructures and improvement in light utilization capability due to attachment of Au nanoparticles on nanostructured CuO thin film. Cracks in Au-CuO nanohybrid thin film facilitated enhanced adsorption of dye molecules and played an essential role in improving the photocatalytic efficiency.